ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 22: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons prepares to snap the ball during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome on January 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

One of the Falcons' most important players will play the big game with a serious injury

This guy might be the greatest team player of all-time.

The Atlanta Falcons have finally made it back to the biggest game in the NFL —- for the first time since 1999 —- and that's thanks to an explosive offense and a defense that's been on fire in the postseason. However, the offense has been so great because quarterback Matt Ryan has been able to stay clean and find his best weapons in Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu. However, the most underrated piece of the puzzle has been center Alex Mack who was named a Pro Bowler this year. It looks like he will be hobbled in the big game in Houston though:

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That does not bode well as Mack has been credited with giving Ryan the best protection of his life and helping him to win NFL MVP honors. You better believe the Patriots are going to zero in on Mack as a weak link and do everything they can to exploit that now.